Burial-casket



(No Model;) v

W. HAM'ILTON.

BURAL CASKET.

Patented Apr. 2 0., 1897.'

INVENTOR i &

%Mua

STATES BU RlAL-CASKET.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. 5s1,155, dated April 20, 1897.

Application filed June 29, 1896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HAMILTON, of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burial-0askets, of which .the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an uncovered burial-casket embodying my invention,the lid being removed. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of same on the line II II of Fig. 1, the hinged top sections constituting the cove being opened. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cove-sections in the position they assume when supporting the lid. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one corner of the body of the casket, showing the section of the cove and the corner-fastenings therefor. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the cove in locked or closed position.

My invention relates to the class of burialcaskets; and it consists in combining with the body of the casket folding sections which entirely surround the same and which when opened extend upwardly and outwardly, so as to form an urn-shaped opening, the cover of the casket resting upon these folding sections when they are closed.

It also consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, 2 represents the body of the casket, the side panels 3 and the end panels 4 being fiared outwardly, as shown, the side and end panels being provided with grooves 5 upon their upper edges. The grooves 5 form sockets for the reception of the sections of the cove 6, which fit neatly therein and are Secured to the side and end panels 3 4, by suitable hinges or other means, in such manner 'that when the casket is opened for the purpose of placing the body within it or to permit a view to be had of the body the hinged sections flare or incline outwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This formation of the casket, when the side and end panels 3 and 4 and the top moldings are properly upholstered, enhances the appearance of the casket to a marked degree and at the same time permits the body to be placed within the casket Serial No. 597,356. (No model.)

with greater facility, and an important feature of this Construction resides also in the fact that it makes it possible to make the lid very light and easily handled.

, As shown in Fig. 3, only a shallow'cover 7 for the lid is necessary, the hinged sections of the cove taking the place of the heavy moldings which have been used heretofore and which usually form an integral part of the lid itself. When to this formerly-used lid is added the weight of plate-glass, which is frequently placed in it, it becomes heavy and very inconvenient to handle. By hinging the cove-sections 6 to the upper edge of the side and end panels I obtain a neatness of finish, both when open and closed, which cannot be obtained otherwise. It is objectionable to hinge the side or end panels near the bottom of the casket, as it eXposes the body too much if the panels are kept in a lowered position, and if closed they do not perinit as full view of the body, without undue exposure, as is the case with my Construction of casket. I provide the cove-sections 6 with a simple and effective looking device at each of their mitered corners, which consists of a pin 8, secured to one hinged section, and aretainingplate 9 on the abuttin g hinged section. These parts are so related that when the sections 6 are brought into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the pins will enter the sockets 10 behind the retaining-plates 9, and when all of the mitered corners of the cove are brought into contact the pins cannot be forced out of position after the cover 7 which is provided with the usualfastenings, is placed upon the upper edges of the cove.

The fastenings upon the cover 7 and the upper edges of the cove are of the usual and well-known type, and, as shown in the drawings, the cover can be removed or raised from the cove when the fastenings are detached.

From the foregoin g description the manner of using my improved casket and its advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and within the scope of my claims changes in the form of the folding sections and their hinges as well as in the corner-fastenings, may be made without departing from my in vention, since What I claim is- 1. A casket comprising a body portion and IOO 3. A casket, conp'isingabodyportion, outwardly-folding sections on the body portion and a renovable cover, said sections being adapted to extend outwardly when open and to form a support for the cover When closed, said folding sections having corner-fastenngs.

In testinony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WM. IIAMILTON.

XVitnesses:

WM. J. CLARKE, .ANTHONY LIGHT. 

